Dirt-loading machine



2 Sheets-'Sheet 1.

EQ-T; HOFFMAN.v

. DIRT LOADING MAGHINE.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 30, 1889.

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l(No Model.) 2 Shets--Sheet 2.

E. T. HOFFMAN.

DIRT LOADING MACHINE. No. 402,450. Patented Apr. 3VO, 1889.-

` UiwfviTFn STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD T. HOFFMAN, OF SUMMUNDUWO'I, KANSAS.

DIRT-LOADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,450, dated April80, 1889.

Application filed August 9, 1888. Serial No. 232,356. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD T. HOFFMAN,

`of Summunduwouin the county of Wyanbeing had to the accompanyingdrawings,

forming part of this specification.

This is amachine intended for gathering loose dirt and loading it into acart or wagon accompanying the machine. It has inclined boards on thesides, which, as the machine advances, move the dirt inward, and anendless elevator by which the dirt is scooped up and discharged upon ashaking chute, down which it r-uns into the cart. i

Figure I is a top view of the machine with the draft-tongue removed.Fig. II is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig'. III is a longitudinalsection of the machine at III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is an enlarged detailsection at IV IV, Fig. I, showing the ratchet device for causing therotation of the axle with the ground-wheels. Fig. V is a detailtransverse section at VV, Fig. III. Fig. VI is a bottom view ofthevmold-boards.v Fig. VII is a detail section at VII VII, Fig. III.

The machine is supported on the drivewheels 1 and the fore wheels, 2.The drivewheels have peripheral projections 3, to prevent their slippageon the ground.

4 4 are inside gear ratchet-wheels attached to the axle-shaft 5 of thedrive-Wheels, the

ratchet-teeth 6 being so arranged that when the machine is movingforward the axle will be carried around with the wheels'by means ofpawls 7, pivoted to the spokes 8 of the wheels, and which are kept incontact with theteeth 6 by springs 9Vupon the wheels.

10 10 are longitudinal or side timbers of the frame, having parallelparts l1 and inclined parts 12. The mold-boards are firmly attached tothese timbers and descend vertically from the same and into the softground. The parts 13 of the mold-boards are parallel, whilethe parts 14are flaring, so that as the machine moves forward the parts 14 carry theearth inward, forming it into a ridge between the parts 13. `Themold-boards have metal shoes l5 at their lower edges to take the wear.

The timbers 10 are connected by suitable cross-timbers, 16, andcarryboxes, in which the axle-shaft 5 has bearing.

At 17 are shown draft-timbers forming extensions of the side timbers,which pass beneath the arched front axle, 18.

19 is a tie-bar or strap connecting the ends VI, the timbers 17 beingdispensed with and the Vcross-bars 22 extending tothe parts l2. In thiscase the space between the arched part of the axle 18 and the tie-bar 19would have to be lengthened, so as to give room for the side movement ofthe bars l2 in the turn-' ing of the machine.

The front part of the frame is raised and lowered on the king-bolt by ahand-lever, 23, forming with the arm 23 a bell-crank, fulcrumed at 24 tothe front axle and connected by a link, 25, with lugs upon across-timber, 22. The lever has a usual drop-latch, 26, engaging innotches of a lock bar or plate, 27, so as to hold it and the front endof the frame in any desired position.

23 are lugs on the front axle, I8, foi` the attachment of adraft-tongue.

29 are the uprights of a frame standing upon the timbers l0.

. 30 are cross-bars, and 3l braces of the upright frame. The uppercross-bars'give bearing to a shaft, 32, carrying a drum, 33, over whichpass the chains or belts 34 of an endless elevator having scoops 35,which at their lowest position enter the earth between the sides of themold-boards and are filled by their forward movement. The chains orbelts 34 pass beneath a drum on the shaft 36, which is the drive-shaftof the elevator. The shaft 36 carries a spur-wheel, 37, Which turnsloosev IOO the shaft 36 by feather-connection, and sliding en'dwise onthe shaft to carry its clutch-teeth 40 into or out of engagement withthe teeth 38. The clutch-collar is moved by a hand-lever, 41, whoseforked end 42 engages with the circumferential groove of the collar.

43 is a spur-wheel fast upon the axle-shaft 5 and engaging with thespur-Wheel 37, so that by the rotation of the axle-shaft the elevator isdriven. As the buckets orscoops pass over the drum 33, their contentsare discharged into an inclined chute, 44, by which the dirt is carriedto one side and discharged. It is intended that a cart or wagon shall bebeneath the discharging end of the chute being drawn forward with themachine, and that when the vehicle has been filled another shall takeit-s place.

In order to'avoid all danger of the dirt sticking fast in the chute, itis shaken by means which will now be described.

45 is a cam on the shaft 32, having a camgroove, 33, in which engagesthe fore end of the lever 46, which is fulcrumed at 47 to the frame, andwhose rear end engages the arm 4S, projecting from the upper endof thechute. It will be seen that endwise reciprocation will be imparted tothe chute, which slides on its bearings 49 50.

51 is the drivers seat.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The mold-boards beingadjusted to the proper elevation, and the clutch of the elevatordriveshaft engaged, the machine is drawn forward over the dirtpreviously made loose by plowing or otherwise, the flaring parts of themoldboards moving the dirt inward and forming a ridge. The elevatorbuckets or scoops are filled with the dirt and carry it up and dischargeit into the chute, from which it falls into the vehicle beneath.

I do not conne myself to the mold-boards alone for gathering the dirttogether, as a common scraper may be used in combination with themold-boards.

I claim as new and of my invention- 1. The combination, in adirt-loading machine, of an endless elevator carrying scoops adapted toenter the dirt before the latter is said wheels with the elevator, andmold.

boards at the sides entering the earth and having parallel rear portionsbetween which the scoops descend, and laterally-flaring front portionsadapted to collect the dirt and crowd it between the parallel portions,whereby its depth is increased at the foot of the endless belt, as setforth.

2. The combination, in a dirt-loading machine, of an endless elevatorprovided with scoops, a main frame constructed to tilt on the rear axleof the machine, a bell-crank lever upon the front axle, a linkconnecting said lever to the front end of the main frame, a lock bar orplate, 27, a latch on said lever for engaging said plate 27, andmold-boards attached to the frame and descending to the dirt each sideof the elevator, and having rear parallel portions, 13, and flaringfront portions, 14, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a dirt-loading machine, of a frame constructed totilt on the rear axle, an arched front axle with a tie-bar connectingthe lower ends of the arch and leaving space for the front end of thetilting frame to rise and fall between the arched part of the axle andthe tie-bar, a king-bolt passing through the middle of the arch and thetie-bar and through a part of the tilting frame, and a lever fulcrumedto the axle and connected to the tilting frame, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

4. In a dirt-loading machine, the longitudinal timbers 10, havingparallel portions 11, and the extensions 17, forming draft-timbers, theoutwardly inclined or aring parts 12, secured to said timbers, and themold-boards or scrapers suspended from said portions 11 12 and havingparallel rear and Haring front portions, 13 14, respectively, incombination with an elevator having an elevator-belt provided withscoops arranged to descend between said parallel portions 13, as setforth.

EDWARD T. HOFFMAN; In presence of JAS. E. KNIGHT, WV. E. MCMANUS.

